I tried out the cupcakes at this local bakery stand inside the NewPark Mall (directly under the food court) after an open mic night with the Fremont Writers’ Club. The pretty, pretty cupcakes on display drew me in; I’m a sucker for a gorgeous cupcake, although the wares often don’t deliver on the visual appeal.
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I’d been watching the Coming Soon! sign for this coffee shop with interest since I moved to Hayward in August. Downtown Hayward has few coffee options aside from the usual chain suspects. Though I enjoy both Snappy’s Café and the Bistro for my caffeine needs, Snappy’s is pretty small and the Bistro is more of
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Chuck’s 426 S. McDowell Street Downtown Raleigh $6.75–$9.00 Chuck’s is another of Ashley Christiansen’s new ventures in downtown Raleigh. And like her Beasley’s next door, it’s a concept restaurant, focusing solely on burgers topped with creative ingredients to give a unique hamburger experiences that you won’t get elsewhere. That’s why they get such fun names
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Hiko’s Premium Ka No Izumi Junmai Daigingo Koga Shiga, Japan   This is a fantastic sake. I lost my tasting notes on it right after I tried it, so this is a loose, loose remembrance of the flavors. Normally, I wouldn’t bother writing up a post when that happens, but I wanted to make sure
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Argiolas Costamolino 2009 Sardinia, Italy This Italian white wine made with the vermentino grape smells of orange blossoms and vanilla. It is very stony with herbal qualities like tarragon or majoram (though that may be the majoram butter from the corn on the cob I had for dinner talking). Banana, vanilla, and lemon notes abound,
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Momokawa Pearl Sake Junmai Ginjo Nigori Genshu Oregon This sake is nigori, so it’s unfiltered, and I’m happy to report that it doesn’t taste like sour milk like the Snow Maiden nigori sake did. Instead, it’s got a delicious creamy flavor of banana, breadfruit, and a bit of kiwi. There’s a strong floral element also,
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Tozai Snow Maiden Kyoto, Japan Snow Maiden is a junmai nigori sake; in other words, it’s sake made with no added alcohol, only pure rice water with yeast, and is unfiltered. I’ve enjoyed unfiltered sake before, so figured why not try a more creamy one?  I think that was a mistake for me. You, of
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